[Introduced February 17, 2003; referred to the Committee on
Government Organization; and then to the Committee on Finance.]

____________

A BILL to establish the central highlands West Virginia highway
authority to include representatives from Braxton, Webster,
Randolph and Pocahontas counties; appointment of officers; and
powers of authority.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WEST VIRGINIA HIGHWAY AUTHORITY.

There is hereby created a Central Highlands West Virginia
highway authority to promote and advance the construction of a
modern highway through Braxton, Webster, Randolph and Pocahontas
counties and to coordinate with counties, municipalities, state and
federal agencies, public nonprofit corporations, private
corporations, associations, partnerships and individuals for the
purpose of planning, assisting and establishing recreational, tourism, industrial, economic and community development of West
Virginia Route 82, Route 15, Route 219, Route 20, New Route 15 and
other highways in those counties for the benefit of West
Virginians. Route 219 and New Route 15 (Snowshoe Expressway) shall
take priority in the work of the authority.

§2. Members; appointment; officers.

(a) The authority consists of ten voting members and three ex
officio nonvoting members. All members shall be appointed before
the first day of July, two thousand three.(b) Each of the county commissions of the counties of Braxton,
Webster, Randolph and Pocahontas shall appoint two voting members
to the authority. The terms of the voting members initially
appointed by a county commission are as follows: One member shall
be appointed for a term of two years and one member shall be
appointed for a term of four years. All successive appointments
shall be for a term of four years. Any voting member may be
removed for cause by the appointing county commission.(c) The three ex officio nonvoting members are the
commissioner of highways or his or her designee, the director of
natural resources or his or her designee and the executive director
of the West Virginia development office or his or her designee.(d) Should a vacancy occur, the person appointed to fill the
vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired portion thereof. All
members are eligible for reappointment.(e) The authority shall meet annually on the third Monday in
July and at such other times designated by the authority in its
bylaws. A special meeting may be called by the president, the
secretary or any two members of the authority and may be held only
after all members are given notice of the meeting in writing. Six
voting members constitute a quorum for all meetings. At each
annual meeting of the authority, it shall elect a president, vice
president, secretary and treasurer. The authority shall adopt
bylaws and rules as may be necessary for its operation and
management.§3. Powers.The authority has all, but only those powers necessary,
incidental, convenient and advisable for the following purposes:(1) Promoting economic development and tourism along West
Virginia Route 82, Route 20, Route 219, New Route 15 and other
highways in Braxton, Webster, Randolph and Pocahontas counties;(2) Advocating actions consistent with that plan or its
provisions to or before any governmental entity or any private
person or entity; and(3) Otherwise acting in an advisory capacity with regard to
any aspects of West Virginia Route 219 and New Route 15 (Snowshoe
Expressway) and other highways in those counties at the request of
or without the request of any governmental entity or private person
or entity.The authority may not own any of the real estate or real
property herein described for development and may not be
responsible for operating or maintaining the highways described
herein.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Central
Highlands West Virginia highway authority, with representatives
from Braxton, Webster, Randolph and Pocahontas counties.

This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.